Characteristics of an Evangelist

An evangelist is a person who spreads the gospel—the life-saving message and teachings of Jesus Christ—to unbelievers in an attempt to help them achieve salvation and become followers of Christ. Anybody can be an evangelist if they choose to accept the Word of God, follow Jesus, and work to spread that message throughout the world. However, there are specific characteristics of an evangelist that make them suited for the work of evangelism. Let’s start where evangelism started: the Bible.

What Is an Evangelist in the Bible?

In the Bible, Jesus is the first evangelist since an evangelist is someone who spreads the gospel. Anyone who follows in His footsteps and does the same is also considered an evangelist. In the Bible, Jesus’s disciples and followers were the earliest evangelists. The Four Evangelists—the writers of the gospel, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—were particularly influential in sharing Jesus’s message.

As mentioned, anyone can be an evangelist, but there are certain attributes that are needed. Here are some of the main characteristics of an evangelist:

• Commitment - An evangelist needs to be committed to their mission because there will be many instances where they are challenged, ignored, and even ridiculed by unbelievers for their efforts and beliefs. Remaining steadfast in your commitment to Christ is a sign of a true evangelist.

• Patience - Evangelists must also be patient since it can often take a lot of time and effort to reach people with the message of Christ. It’s impossible to change the world overnight, so being patient and understanding that evangelism will take time is essential.

• Understanding - Evangelists must also be understanding of other people and possess a great understanding of the Bible. You can’t connect with people that you can’t relate to, so being understanding will help you meet people where they are. Having an understanding of the Bible is crucial, as it is an evangelist’s greatest tool.

• Love - Finally, an evangelist must be loving. They must love Jesus, themselves, and the people around them. Evangelism is about letting Jesus’s love flow through you so that you may help others in the same way He has helped you.

GO! Evangelism Ministry is a champion of street evangelism. We have developed GO! Gospel Tracts in more than 50 languages to aid efforts preaching eternal life and hope beyond the world's hardships. Consider becoming a street evangelist by using our GO! Gospel Tracts to preach to the masses in the open streets! Contact us or visit our website to learn more and get started with spreading the message of God effectively!

About GO! Evangelism

We, at GO Evangelism Ministry, Inc., have been supporting gospel ministries across the globe in their mission to spread the Word. Thanks to our tracts, the Gospel is spread every day, in countless parts of the globe, in numerous languages.

At GO Evangelism Ministry, Inc., we have GO! Gospel Tracts that will move anyone into lending their ear to your message. You can develop a highly effective Tract Ministry by including a select choice of tracts in your evangelism efforts. In doing so, you and everyone you touch through your ministry will reap the eternal reward of The Word!